Bredgar
{{Short description|Village in Kent, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| static_image_name = St John The Baptist Church, Bredgar, Kent - geograph.org.uk - 1449725.jpg
| country = England
| coordinates = {{coord|51.311|0.696|display=inline,title}}
| official_name = Bredgar
| population = 659
| shire_district = Swale
| shire_county = Kent
| region = South East England
| constituency_westminster = Sittingbourne and Sheppey
| post_town = Sittingbourne
| postcode_district = ME9
| postcode_area = ME
| dial_code =
| os_grid_reference =
}}
Bredgar is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Swale, Kent, England.
Location
The village lies to the southwest of Sittingbourne on the road between Tunstall and Hollingbourne (previously the B2163).{{cite web|url=https://www.hollingbournepc.kentparishes.gov.uk/hollingbourne-to-sittingbourne-road-to-be-closed-for-six-weeks/|title=Hollingbourne to Sittingbourne Road to be closed for six weeks|work=Hollingbourne Parish Council|date=30 March 2017|access-date=3 March 2020}} The M2 motorway crosses the parish. Junction 5 is west of the village.{{cite web|url=http://assets.highwaysengland.co.uk/roads/road-projects/M2+Junction+5/Orders/SRO+Booklet+with+Cover+(Web+Version).pdf|title=M2 Junction 5 Improvements|work=Highways England|access-date=3 March 2020}}
History
A hoard of 34 Roman gold aurei was discovered in the parish in 1957. It is thought to be related to the Claudian invasion, possibly buried by a soldier before the Battle of the Medway.{{cite web | url = http://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/news/hoards-and-hoarding.htm | title = Hoards and hoarding | date = 1 October 2010 | website = Current Archaeology | access-date = 29 April 2016 }}{{cite web | url = https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/65621 | title = Coin – Unique ID: ESS-F8A767 | date = 24 February 2011 | website = Portable Antiquities Scheme | access-date = 29 April 2016}}
In the reign of King Henry III (12th century), Robert de Bredgar, resided here and his name appears in an ancient roll of the benefactors to the monastery of Davington (in Faversham). The village was then named after this family.
The village was originally called Bradgare. The parish had around 1300 acres of land, of which one hundred acres are covered by wood. With Tunstall and Bobbing, it was controlled by the Manor of Milton.{{cite journal |last=Hasted |first=Edward |year=1798 |title=Parishes |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=62949 |journal=The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent |publisher=Institute of Historical Research |volume=6 |pages=98–106 |access-date=12 February 2014}}
Features
The parish includes several Grade II listed buildings. These include Swanton Court, a 16th-century house,{{NHLE|num=1116488|accessdate=3 March 2020}} and the 15th century Mann's Place.{{NHLE|num=1069360|accessdate=3 March 2020}} Bredgar House is in the centre of the village, and was constructed in the 18th century.{{NHLE|num=1069365|accessdate=3 March 2020}} A war memorial was constructed in the village centre by the pond in 1920, to commemorate soldiers fallen in World War I, and later updated for World War II. It was Grade II listed in 2007.{{NHLE|num=1392296|accessdate=3 March 2020}}
The parish also has its own church, St John The Baptist Church, which is in the diocese of Canterbury, and the deanery of Sittingbourne. It is Grade I listed.{{NHLE|num=1343876|accessdate=3 March 2020}} King Henry III gave out alms from this church to the leprous women of the hospital of St. James, (alias St. Jacob), near Thanington, near Canterbury. It was refurbished in 2014, including the installation of running water.{{cite news|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/sittingbourne/news/vicar-delighted-as-facilities-are-12109/|title=Revamp at St John the Baptist Church in Bexon Lane, Bredgar|work=Kent Online|date=31 January 2014|access-date=3 March 2020}}
The Sun Inn is the village's pub. It has existed since the 16th century and features a large garden.{{cite news|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/13-of-kents-best-pub-gardens-211018/|title=13 of Kent's best pub gardens|work=Kent Online|date=24 August 2019|access-date=3 March 2020}}
Bredgar is home to the privately owned Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway, a steam railway with a collection of various locomotives and rolling stock. The railway is open to the public on Saturdays through the summer.{{cite news|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/sittingbourne/news/crowds-flock-to-village-war-1456/|title=Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway plays host on Second World War visitors' day|work=Kent Online|date=3 June 2013|access-date=3 March 2020}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Bredgar}}
{{Swale}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Civil parishes in Kent
{{kent-geo-stub}}